SS24 – TD – CM – Content Creation for Immersive Spaces 1
In English Language
01 / Friday, April 12th / 6-9 pm / Online via Zoom
02 / Friday, April 19th / 6-9 pm / Online via Zoom
03 / Friday, April 26th / 6-9 pm / Online via Zoom
04 / Friday, May 3rd / 6-9 pm / Online via Zoom
05 / Friday, May 10th / 6-9 pm / Online via Zoom
06 / Friday, May 17th / 6-9 pm / Online via Zoom
PRESENTATION & SHOW / Wednesday, May 22nd / 3pm – 23.30 pm /
In person at Studio 1111, Berlin, Germany / Part of the 2024 TD Event Berlin
with feedback by the VJ Team of the club and the Derivative team!
The first six sessons will be recorded and become available online the next working day after the live lesson. However, a big part of this course will be live consultations on the participants design, which naturally work only in a realtime communication situation.
Content Creation for Immersive Art Spaces
Immersive art spaces have been sprouting across the globe, establishing themselves as a novel platform for audiovisual media art. They have garnered immense popularity among diverse audiences, promising a fresh media encounter inspired by virtual worlds, projection mapping, and the iconic StarTrek holodeck. The spectrum ranges from innovative projects, spotlighting contemporary media art to hommages to artists long departed (a quick search of the multitude of immersive Van Gogh experiences illustrates this phenomenon). Many believe that the current juncture is pivotal for demonstrating the artistic value of this medium, transcending the mere exploitation for tourist attractions.
Studio 1111 Berlin
has recently opened a new venue that integrates immersion as a key element for a unique, art-centered clubbing experience in the heart of Berlin. The minimalist design of this space features central pieces surrounded by 270° floor-to-ceiling projections, inviting guests to enjoy a drink at the bar, dance on the floor, and, above all, connect with other art enthusiasts to forge meaningful relationships for a brighter future.
Technical Setup
The main room panorama is illuminated by 10 seamlessly blended laser projectors, delivering an impressive resolution of 16,568 pixels by 1200 pixels at 60 Hz. To facilitate the playback and performance of content on this sophisticated surface, the Berlin-based design studio flora&faunavisions was tasked with developing a cutting-edge real-time performance system in TouchDesigner, as well as an intuitive VJ implementation with Resolume. In addition, they curated a stunning content library that seamlessly integrates the studio’s expertise in immersive creation and real-time visuals with the club’s commitment to quality and human-centered content.
It goes without saying that the club boasts an exceptional sound system, developed with the assistance of members Spatial Media Lab e.V., to deliver an awe-inspiring audio experience utilizing over 39 speakers throuout the venue.
To explore the capabilities of this canvas and the spatial configuration of the club, flora&faunavisions has created a 3D simulation of the main room, allowing for content simulation in TouchDesigner and rendering pre-visualizations in any 3D authoring software available.
As part of the collaboration between Studio 1111 and The NODE Institute, we have developed an exclusive course led by Experience Designer Stefan Kraus (MXZEHN). This course not only provides participants with the opportunity to explore content creation for immersive spaces but also encourages them to develop live VJ performances for the main room at Studio 1111.
The concepts for these performances will be presented to participants of the TD Event Berlin 2024, the Derivative team, and the VJ booking team of Studio 1111 on May 22, 2024. Throughout the evening, those participants who were able to travel to Berlin will have the chance to showcase their pieces live to one of the most discerning VJ audiences imaginable—the attendees of the TD Event Berlin 2024, which includes some of the most talented and experienced TD artists from Europe and beyond.
About the Course
This course will focus on exploring ideas and techniques for crafting compelling and unique live VJ performances tailored specifically for immersive spaces. A key challenge lies in understanding how the space and visual content interact during production, as well as optimizing generative content to be both captivating and performable at a smooth frame rate of at least 30 FPS during live, improvised performances synced with the club’s top DJ artists.
To tackle these challenges, we will utilize a 3D simulation of the projection to preview our work in VR, generate walkthroughs, and experiment with alternative methods of experiencing our animations before entering the physical venue.
With the simulation in place, we will delve into various content creation approaches, ranging from generative, audio-driven content in TouchDesigner to pre-rendered 2D and 3D loops from software such as After Effects, Cinema4D, Blender, or any tool participants are comfortable with.
We will explore how audio analysis can be used to create and manipulate generative content, allowing flexibility for the VJ to perform alongside the DJ rather than being confined to a rigid rhythm.
Additionally, we will learn techniques for creating and rendering high-resolution scenes at relevant frame rates, as well as how to optimize scenes for performance constraints. We’ll also cover creating loops in TouchDesigner that can be used with Resolume or any other VJ software, granting creative freedom while composing and mixing to the beat.
Discussion topics will include the role of a VJ within the social and cultural framework of a club night, and how visual performance can both enhance and diminish audience experiences.
Participants will be guided to develop their own style and production workflow for creating unique and relevant visuals for live sets, as well as how to effectively think about and communicate their creations.
Although this course assumes participants have a foundational understanding of TouchDesigner, it’s important to note that the creative process of content production transcends the boundaries of any single tool. Under the expert guidance of Stefan Kraus, attendees will embark on a journey to create a concise audiovisual composition through iterative steps. The ultimate showcase will feature input and critique from the NODE Institute, Derivative, and Studio 1111 teams, who continually seek out promising new talent.
What if you can not attend the presentation at Studio 1111 in Berlin, Germany?
We understand that the majority of our students do not reside in Germany, and for many, attending the showcase in person may not be feasible. While we may not be able to live stream the entire experience from the venue, we will present the pieces and facilitate remote participation in the presentation and feedback discussion through Zoom.
Additionally, we will offer photo documentation of the concepts projected in the actual venue, which participants can use for their portfolios.
Requirements
This module is made for participants, who have a basic understanding of TouchDesigner, but do not need any experience with shader languages. If you just getting started, please visit our Beginners Course first.
It is further recommended to familiarize yourself with the free 3D software Blender and have at least a demo version of Adobe After Effects and Photoshop (or similar) at hands.
- A recent PC or MAC Computer (discrete GPU recommended) with stable internet connection
- The latest build of TouchDesigner installed
- Zoom Client installed (please test your audio setup beforehand), wired internet is recommended
- 3-Button Mouse recommended
About the Instructor
http://www.mxzehn.de
The Berlin based media artist and educator, Stefan Kraus, is co-founder of the creative coding education hub, The NODE Institute, the projection mapping festival, Genius Loci Weimar, and the media art studio, MXZEHN. Trained as an architect, Stefan explores the augmentation of physical structures using interactive and generative media and the narrative potential of abstract imagery. He holds a special interest in the art of live visual improvisation and creates augmented scenographies for theater, dance and music performances. After teaching Interaction Design at Bauhaus-University Weimar for over two decades, Stefan now enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience with the creative coding community. His studio produces interactive installations, live media performances and augmented reality applications for commercial clients, festivals, institutions and exhibitions.
Flexible Pricing
As with all our courses, we offer three pricing categories to accommodate the different economic value this course can have to different participants. Be fair and respect our work and the instructors by doing the right thing! Assess your situation and choose which ticket is right for you.
– Student & Hobbyist
You are currently studying or want to learn TouchDesigner for personal reasons that are not related to your source of income.
– Professional
You are working professionally as a self employed or freelancing person and want to learn TouchDesigner to advance your career and win new customers by expanding your skills.
Maybe you work as an employee in another field, but want to qualify yourself for new challenges, yet your company is not supporting you on this path.
– Company
You are employed with or are running a company that will leverage the new skills acquired in their work with clients. You want to further qualify your employees and support them on their learning path.
Pricing
Student – 7 Modules at 60 EUR each = 420 EUR / BUY NOW!
Professional – 7 Modules at 110 EUR each = 770 EUR / BUY NOW!
and claim a $200 discount on your first TouchDesigner license here
Company – 7 Modules at 180 EUR each = 1260 EUR / BUY NOW!
and claim a $200 discount on your first TouchDesigner license here
